He said: “It must have been excruciating for Steve Bruce to watch the player he brought to English football tear his resurgent Newcastle apart. [He] was outstanding yet again for Liverpool.

“Robertson was so effective down Liverpool’s left-hand side and almost entirely responsible for Sadio Mane’s brilliant opening goal. My only criticism of Robertson is someone who strikes the ball as cleanly as he does should be having more shots on goal. He has the firepower, now apply the confidence.”

(Michael Steele/Getty Images)

TBR’s View – Bruce can’t have expected Robertson to develop into world’s best left back when he brought him to Hull

There isn’t a better left back in world football right now than Robertson. His energy is boundless, wingers rarely get the better of him and his delivery from the left is classy.

Bruce was the man who brought him to Hull in 2014 and surely the Magpies boss can’t have expected him to explode to quite the extent he has.

There weren’t too many positives for Newcastle from this one, but on the subject that Crooks brings up of goalscoring left backs, it will have heartened Bruce to see Jetro Willems find the net.